FRISCO, Texas -- The 2025 NFL draft was held Thursday-Saturday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Dallas Cowboys kicked things off with Alabama guard Tyler Booker, the No. 12 pick of Round 1.
Here is a breakdown of each Cowboys pick:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
Round 1, No. 12: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
My take: Most mock drafts had the Cowboys taking a wide receiver in Round 1, and they had an affinity for Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, but he went No. 8 to Carolina. McMillan would have helped Dak Prescott, but Booker also helps the quarterback. When Prescott has been his best, the Cowboys have had stout offensive lines, first with Tyron Smith, Travis Frederick and Zack Martin. Now they have three first-rounders on the line in Tyler Smith, Tyler Guyton and Booker. He can protect Prescott up the middle and also greatly help improve the running game.
Key stat: According to ESPN Research, Booker had only six blown blocks on 740 blocking plays last season at Alabama. His blown-block percentage of 0.8% was the second lowest in the SEC to Florida's Jake Slaughter among players with at least 500 blocking plays. Bonus stat: He gave up only one sack in 970 pass-blocking snaps in three college seasons.
Will he start as a rookie?: The feeling is that Booker was the safest pick at No. 12 with the ability to step in right away and start. Though the Cowboys liked what Brock Hoffman did last season in seven starts after replacing Martin, who retired following the season, Booker brings more to the position. He has the size (6-foot-5, 325 pounds) and can affect the running game. One of the first things Booker said to owner and general manager Jerry Jones was how he wanted to keep the offensive line tradition going in Dallas. The Cowboys hope this is a seamless transition from Martin to Booker.
Check out some of the top highlights from Boston College's Donovan Ezeiruaku.
Round 2, No. 44: Donovan Ezeiruaku, DE, Boston College
My take: An old adage: You can never have enough pass rush. With Micah Parsons, Dante Fowler Jr., Sam Williams and last year's second-round pick, Marshawn Kneeland, the Cowboys didn't need a pass rusher -- until you dig a little deeper. Fowler and Williams (recovering from a torn ACL) are in contract years. Theoretically, so is Parsons, but the Cowboys want to sign him to an extension. Ezeiruaku led the ACC with 16.5 sacks. He also had 30 for his career to go along with 45.5 tackles for loss, and eight forced fumbles. It will be up to new coordinator Matt Eberflus to be imaginative in getting these guys on the field, but he also wants to use a deep rotation.
Key stat: Ezeiruaku led FBS with 62 quarterback pressures when rushing from the edge last season. Penn State's Abdul Carter, who went No. 3 overall to the Giants, was second with 54. Ezeiruaku had a 16.5% pressure rate last season, which was fifth best in FBS last season. In Boston College history, he is second in sacks behind Mathias Kiwanuka, a former Giant, and his 16.5 sacks last season tied the school's single-season record with Harold Landry III, who joined New England as a free agent this offseason.
Check out some of the top highlights from East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr.
Round 3, No. 76: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
My take: Normally, the Cowboys take their chances on an injured player in Round 2, but instead it came in the third round with Revel. He suffered a torn ACL during practice in September, but the Cowboys have some inside information. Dr. Daniel Cooper, the team surgeon, performed the operation on Revel's knee and has given the Cowboys favorable reviews. Had he been healthy, he could have been a first-round pick. Trevon Diggs is also coming back from knee surgery and might not be ready to play at the start of the season. Revel might need time to get to 100%, but the expectation is he will be available this season.
Is this a pick for depth or does it fill a hole? How about both? The knee injury does give some pause, but the Cowboys want to have press-man corners. He has the size (6-3, 193) and the length (32⅝-inch arms). He had three interceptions in two years as a starter at East Carolina. He also had 12 pass deflections in 2023. The Cowboys lost Jourdan Lewis in free agency and Diggs has some questions for the present and the future. Plus, DaRon Bland is going into the last year of his contract. Revel has the frame to match up against the receivers in the division. Clearly, the Cowboys do not have concerns about the knee.
What's next: What's next: The Cowboys enter Day 3 of the draft without a fourth-round pick, thanks to last season's trade with the Carolina Panthers for wide receiver Jonathan Mingo. They have two fifth-rounders, two sixth-rounders and three selections in the seventh round. But it's important to note the Cowboys have made 72 draft-day trades with Jones as owner and general manager.
Round 5, No. 149: Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
My take: The Cowboys' patience was stretched in waiting to take Blue since they did not have a fourth-round pick. Thirteen running backs were picked before Blue. He played behind Bijan Robinson and Jonathon Brooks at Texas, but he had his best season in 2024 with 730 rushing yards on 134 carries with eight touchdowns. He caught 42 passes for 368 yards and six scores. He needs to do a better job securing the ball, but he can pair with Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders and grow into a role.
Round 5, No. 152: Shemar James, LB, Florida
My take: The Cowboys gave up a fifth- and sixth-round picks to move up to take James. The Cowboys traded for Kenneth Murray, signed Jack Sanborn and have Marist Liufau and Damone Clark. They're hopeful DeMarvion Overshown can return at some point during the season with a knee injury, but James has the skills defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus likes in his linebackers. He had 166 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, 4 pass deflections and an interception. Backup linebackers have to be core special teams players, so James will have to handle that role first.
Round 6, No. 204 (from Lions): Ajani Cornelius, OL, Oregon
My take: Cornelius has started 50 games at Rhode Island and Oregon at right tackle, but he could move to guard. The Cowboys want to be physical and that's his style of play, but he needs some work. The Cowboys took Tyler Booker in the first round, added Robert Jones, Saahdiq Charles and Hakeem Adeniji as they look to build their offensive line. Charles and Adinije have tackle experience as well, but Cornelius could be fighting for a roster spot with Asim Richards, a fifth-round pick in 2023.
Round 7, No. 217: Jay Toia, DT, UCLA
My take: A three-year starter at UCLA, Toia is the stout run stopper the Cowboys need. While they have Mazi Smith, their No. 1 pick two years ago, they lacked size on the interior. At 325 pounds, Toia can hold up some blockers and eat up space. He might have some pass-rush abilities too with 19 pressures last season, but he has just three sacks.
Round 7, No. 239: Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson
My take: If Jaydon Blue brings the speed, then Mafah brings the size (6-1, 230 pounds). He started his final 19 games at Clemson and finished his career with 2,887 yards and 28 touchdowns. In 14 starts last year, he had 1,115 yards and eight touchdowns. The backfield is crowded with Blue, Mafah, Javonte Williams, Miles Sanders, Deuce Vaughn and Malik Davis. The Cowboys normally have four tailbacks on the 53-man roster, so this will be a competitive situation in training camp.
Round 7, No. 247: Tommy Akingbesote, DT, Maryland
My take: Brian Schottenheimer was not lying about saying the game is about the trenches. Akingbesote was the third defensive lineman the Cowboys took among their picks, to go along with two offensive lineman. At 6-4, 320 pounds, he has the size the Cowboys like and can play multiple spots on the interior. He had a career-high 32 tackles with five tackles for loss, one sack and a forced fumble last year.